Community Health director outlines service impacts, staffing needs as renovation work proceeds

The county’s community health director told the Board of Commissioners that scheduled renovation work will require closing parts of the county office on specific dates and that those closures will affect services that rely on in‑person access.

“We are one of the last agencies in the state that you can walk to the desk and get a birth or death certificate,” the director said, emphasizing that temporary closures for floor grinding and sealing would delay those services and could slow other dependent processes such as the prosecutor’s work. Staff gave planned closure dates of June 5 and June 9, with a possible June 12 date for additional work.

The director also summarized staffing and recruitment challenges. The department is advertising for contract therapists and contract crisis workers and is working to transition an existing intern to a contractor pending credentialing completion. Staff reported difficulty attracting applicants through general job postings and said they are exploring partnerships with college internship programs and local schools.

Commissioners and staff discussed accommodations for seniors and accessibility where floor work intersects with senior program areas; staff said contractors will grind and skim‑coat floors, then grind them flat before epoxy is applied so the finished surface remains even for wheelchairs and walkers. Staff offered to publicize closures via the county website, social media and local newspaper and to place signage at building entrances.

No formal board action was required; commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to hiring partners and to notify the public about scheduled closures.